I'm Guy Raz, host and creator of NPR's How I Built This podcast. I wrote a book based on my interviews called "How I Built This". It's designed to be a guide, a cheerleader, and a shot of inspiration — no matter where you are in your journey.

You’re an amazing show host!

Who is one person, entrepreneur or otherwise, you’ve interviewed, that you feel is most similar to yourself, and why?

If you were to create a startup business what would you sell?

What is one question you wish you had asked during an interview, but didn’t?

Thank you! 1) most similar? Jamie Siminoff of Ring 2) I'd sell natural eczema cream (my wife has a great recipe!) 3) hope it doesn't sound arrogant but I really do ask all the questions (in general) that I want to ask...interviews are much longer than what is actually aired on podcast

Guy, you’re a great journalist and podcaster. Did you always picture yourself doing this when you were younger? How did you find a path to do something awesome and that you love?

like a lot of people...I wanted to contribute something to the world in my own small way...I think a lot of people want to do that as well. It doesn't have to be huge...it can be making a contribution to someone's life that is meaningful. And so for me...making a contribution was to become a journalist...to tell stories of peoples lives that would (hopefully) build empathy in the minds of those who listened to those stories. I never had a grand plan for my career except one rule: I decided early on that SUCCESS for me did not mean money or fame or prestige. It meant having an interesting life with interesting experiences and encounters and conversations.

Out of all of the entrepreneurs you've interviewed and companies you've researched,

• Which product/idea was the silliest/dumbest that was executed brilliantly?
• Which product/idea was amazing that was executed extremely poorly?

1) Edible Arrangements. Who would've thought the idea to cut up fruit into flower shapes and deliver them in a bouquet would work? No one...except for Tariq Farid who turned it into a 500 million $ business 2) Glitch...the game Stewart Butterfield created. IT failed. But what succeeded was the internal messaging system his team built in order to develop Glitch. That system became SLACK and the rest is history

Hi Guy, big fan of HIBT. I've always wondered how polite are you really regarding the layer of arrogance these CEOs must have to get where they are, any stories about it? No need to name names.

We really work hard to screen for kindness. Obviously not every founder is perfect. that's impossible...but in general...of the 250+ founders we've had on the show...we really do a lot of homework ahead of time to make sure we are showcasing the BEST of entrepreneurship and not the worst

Huge fan of HIBT, here! I’ve always been curious; Have you ever /really/ not clicked with someone you’re interviewing? You always keep it so professional and up-beat, it’s really hard to tell! 😅

i interview people for 3, sometimes 4 hours...there's no way of getting around it but after being in an intense conversation with someone that long...its hard not to feel like you know them and understand them...

sometimes there's tension at the beginning...especially because people aren't used to my style of interviewing...but usually within the first 30 mins or so...that passes

I love your show “How I Built This” I’ve noticed that rarely somebody from the medical field will be in the show, is that a true perception? And if so, any particular reason? I’m asking this because, even though I’m a clinician, I also have an “itch” to start something new, something of my own, however it has been hard to find examples of people with this particular “demographic”

we just did an episode with a former MD, Oliver Kharraz, founder of ZocDoc. Also we've had PhD researchers (Pat Brown of Impossible Foods)

What advice would you give to an upcoming musician/ recording artist during this time?

Tik Tok. Its the new most powerful record label on earth

I love the theme music. Is there an interesting back story to it? Also love the “How You Built That” segment. Will it be back soon?

1) thank you. Ramtin Arablouei (host of Throughline) is an incredible composer/musician. I told him I wanted a song inspired by "Gamma Ray" by Beck. I love the propulsive energy of that song. And if you listen to the HIBT theme song closely..you will hear similarities to Gamma Ray 2) With COVID...and lockdowns...and remote work...our team is stretched. So we are taking a hiatus from How u Built That. But instead we tripled the # of new episodes with the REsilience series

Do you have advice for people who are sick of their jobs, and want to do something new - but aren't sure what to do? And would you advise starting something new now (in this pandemic/election timing) or wait until next fall if possible?

1) keep your day job 2) work your side hustle at night and on weekends (research, research research, talk to people, call random folks, write a plan etc) 3) start it NOW. This is a LOW point. It will force u to be resourceful and scrappy. And if you can build the foundation for a business in the middle of an economic crisis...you will build the kind of resilience every business dreams of...because if you can make it through this in tact...you will be able to handle anything

If you didn't become a journalist/podcaster, what career path would you have chosen?

probably something in public policy (boring I know)

I love ”How I Built This”! On average, how many hours of research do you do in preparation for an interview?

depends but at minimum, I will spend 4-5 hours reading everything I can about the person. But often much much longer.

Sorry, another question. Is it actually possible, in your opinion, to properly balance starting a successful business and dedicate proper time to the family?

Yes. In fact, prioritizing family forces you to be even more efficient with your work

Will you marry Jeff?

I'm married

I recently listened to your interview with Gary Vee. You talk about taking a leap of faith with TED Radio Hour.

What advice would you give for taking leaps of faith?

Do you wish you would have done something on your own earlier?

Big fan btw, I still remember episode 1 of HIBT. I think my favorite episode is Ring though. His story gets me.

1) I talk about this in chapter 2 of my book: Dangerous versus Scary. Don't do dangerous things...do scary things 2) not really because I needed to go through the different phases of my career to learn and have the confidence to try the things I do now

love the story of Ring...so good right?

Hey Guy, huge fan of yours - currently reading your book and loving it! Two questions:

Who do you want to interview the most that you haven’t already got on schedule?

Are you ever afraid of offending any of the guests with certain questions or do they confirm what they’re comfortable answering beforehand?

1) I'd love to interview Jay-Z. We've approached him in the past...probably should try again 2) never worried about offending. We have 1 condition for any guest who agrees to appear on the show: no conditions.

Hi Guy! I’m a huge fan and longtime listener of HIBT 😄 I’m applying for college now & I’m interested in getting involved in radio/podcasts.

My question is: what was your background/journey to becoming a host on NPR. What did you study in college to get you interested in journalism and to prepare you for this job?

1) I came to NPR as an intern in 1997 2) I was on the student newspaper in college and high school 3) I did not study journalism or broadcasting. I studied history. That's been much more useful to me as a journalist than any other topic I studied

I really enjoyed your recent podcast with with Tim Ferriss. Can you talk more about your mental health practices - how do you personally manage stress and anxiety?

1) force myself to exercise every day (even when I'm feeling low) 2) talk about it. I find that it helps to be open

From the entrepreneurs you’ve interviewed, who was the oldest when they got started on their idea? Where there many pros/cons of starting later in life? Where there any who’ve repeated their success in new businesses?

Bob Moore of Bob's Red Mill. He was in his mid-50s, broke and studying at a seminary outside Portland to become a pastor. Bought an old dilapidated mill (it was red!) and started milling flour.

I think there were LOTS of pros...he had 55 years of wisdom to help him navigate the craziness of starting a business and dealing with the incredible highs and low lows (like when the mill burned down in a fire and he had to start over)

Who do you think would win in a fight? One 20-foot-tall Steve Inskeep vs. 20 1-foot-tall Audie Cornishes?

tough call. I think they'd both decide not to fight and actually convene a potluck dinner with all your favorite NPR personalities.

You have interviewed entrepreneurs from all different age groups who started business in very different times, how do you think the attitude, personal traits (or that something that makes an entrepreneur succeed) in founders has changed over the years?

I think a big part of it is that in recent years, we (our society) has built better awareness around entrepreneurship and that has had a huge impact on how we talk and think about it. But I don't think the traits have changed...and I think those traits are largely LEARNED...for example...the ability to withstand rejection, It can be learned...it requires exposure to rejection (like being a sales rep and hearing no again and again)

Apart from in-episode ads, what are other ways you're able to monetize the podcast?

live shows, conferences, educational material, etc. But HIBT is truly about mission first. Obviously we NEED to be sustainable but it is a FREE show with (we hope) FREE educational content that is also inspiring and useful and practical for folks looking for that wisdom. If you were to go to biz school, you'd have to pay thousands of dollars for access to case studies. We offer it for free

What is the very best cheese?

Rush Creek Reserve is pretty great

I really enjoy your podcast, and I believe you are a crucial point of making it so great. My question is - after interviewing so many entrepreneurs have you noticed any common traits and do you think you have to be born with those traits or can you development them?

Some entrepreneurs are born that way (Mark Cuban for example) But most are not. Most LEARN the traits and skills it takes to become an entrepreneur. Adam Lowry of Method Soap is introverted, cerebral, etc...but an incredible entrepreneur who LEARNED how to do it by partnering with his more (extroverted) friend Eric Ryan.

There are thousands more examples like these but the most important trait is the ability to withstand rejection. here's something I've written about it: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-mormon-missionaries-can-teach-us-guy-raz/

Aside from the podcast you host/produce, what are your other favorite podcasts?

Planet money Throughline Code Switch It's Been a Minute

Hey, I am a big fan of your podcast! Two questions. Do you think it is possible to start a company without luck? Also what is your favorite failure from someone you interviewed?

1) luck, hard work and privilege are all factors... 2) too many to name but loved the stories in our Classpass episode. Payal Kadakia is super inspiring and talks about how so many of their models failed until they got to a plan that actually worked!

In your new book (which is amazing!), you talk about the shelf life of every idea and the need to act quickly. Is there an entrepreneural idea you've had that just sat for too long and couldn't be used?

selling my baseball card collection. shouldve done it in the mid-1980s during the baseball card bubble.

Hi Guy! What’s your favorite book and/or movie?!

Movie: Wings of Desire Book: changes a lot but I love Atonement. The writing is beautiful

Are there any entrepreneurs you want on your show badly but they will not agree to be interviewed?

We don't spend too much time chasing folks who don't want to be on...we get about 1000 pitches a week and we can only do 45 new full length episodes a year. We only want people on who want to be on

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own podcast?

dont worry about the size of your audience.

How did you balance family life when you were doing military correspondence as a reporter? Like when you were always travelling and flying everywhere?

it was before I had a family

What is your biggest regret in life, if any?

not having more kids earlier

How to be a good podcast host? And grow your listener base?

focus on making content that is value-added for people.

How did you become one of the most successful podcast hosts? Did you put a lot of effort and hard work into it, or did you just meet the right people at the right time? I’m asking because I’ve been trying to work hard at what I do, but also sometimes Im just tempted to lie down and sleep and let the chips fall where they may.

its like any skill. I've been standing at the free throw line for 23 years (started out as a radio reporter in my early 20s) I've attempted hundreds of thousands shots at that basket over the years. At the beginning, I missed most of them. It took me a LONG LONG time of trying hard and failing and sometimes getting small wins before I was able to sink a lot more baskets. (Go Lakers!!)

Hi Guy!

Huge fan here! I love the podcast and strive to ask such insightful questions as you do. Any advice for aspiring/new podcast hosts?

Listen actively to your guest. And practice...there's no "right" way..you will find your voice the more you do it